No. XX Vaticano S 2010 News Letter

Città del eptember No. XX Vaticano S 2010 News Letter

ORDO EQUESTRIS SANCTI SEPULCRI HIEROSOLYMITANI

Message from the Cardinal Grand Master I Message from the Pope calls on Middle East Catholics to engage Cardinal in mission for reconciliation V

Grand Master From the Grand Magisterium VI Dear Knights and Ladies A report from Bethlehem: of the Holy Sepulchre: “We refuse to be enemies” VIII

Together with seventy Knights and Ladies Cardinal Lanza of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre of di Montezemolo is 85 VIII Jerusalem, I had the honor of accompa- nying our Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI on his recent Apostolic Visit to Cyprus, the land first evangelized by Sts. Paul and Barnabas.

As you may recall, our Order was able to contribute a substantial amount for the restructuring of the Apostolic Nuncia- ture/Franciscan Friary in Nicosia, which was the Holy Father’s residence during his IMPRESSUM visit to Cyprus, and to a special project in GRAND MAGISTERIUM OF THE Paphos, the first city visited by our Holy EQUESTRIAN ORDER Father on the island. OF THE HOLY SEPULCHRE OF JERUSALEM ➣ 00120 Vatican City III News Letter NR. XX · september 2010

Message from the Cardinal Grand Master

During the flight to Cyprus, the Holy Father asked me if there would be Knights and Ladies of the Holy Sepulchre there, because he remembered a large group which was present during his pilgrimage to the Holy Land last year. When I responded that about seventy of our members from all over the world would be present, he asked, “Will they be in uniform?” I responded that they certainly would be – and they were, and the Sunday Mail of Nicosia reported favorably on their – our – presence!

On the return flight to Rome, the Holy Father thanked me for the presence of the Knights and Ladies and for their continuing generosity to the work of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem and to the work of the Holy See in the Middle East.

One statement the Holy Father made during his visit to Cyprus, at the Church of the Holy Cross in Nicosia, in the United Nations-patrolled Green Zone, the buffer zone between the Republic of Cyprus and Turkish-controlled Northern Cyprus, was that the symbol of the cross should not merely be worn as a sign of honor but as a sign of faith and of personal willingness to sacrifice and to suffer.

A Greek Orthodox archbishop asked me the meaning of the symbolism of the Jerusalem Cross worn by our members – and I replied that most interpret those five crosses as symbolic of the five wounds of Christ. He replied that he had heard other inter- pretations, but that the symbolism of the five wounds of Jesus Christ was an effective reminder that we should all be ready to suffer for our Christian faith. III News Letter No. XX · september 2010

Message from the Cardinal Grand Master

As Knights and Ladies of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem, your public identification with faith in Jesus Christ, crucified and risen from the dead, and your willingness to make continuing sacrifices for the benefit of your fellow Christians in the Holy Land give continuing testimony to your love of Jesus and toward your brother and sister Christians in the land made holy by His life, death and resurrection.

In Cyprus, I was proud and grateful for the presence, example and generosity of so many Knights and Ladies of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem, but then I am always proud and grateful to be associated with the men and women of our Order so ready and willing to help bear the cross of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, and to help make His message live in the Holy Land and indeed in every nation.

May God bless you all! Sincerely in Christ,

John Cardinal Foley Grand Master Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem IV News Letter No. XX · september 2010

Message from the Cardinal Grand Master

The Cardinal Grand Master of the Order thanked the Holy Father for the invitation to accompany him on his pilgrimage to Cyprus. On 2 July the Secretary of State Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone replied as follows on behalf of His Holiness:

Your Eminence,

The Holy Father has asked me to thank you for the kind letter that you sent to him following his recent Apostolic Visit to Cyprus. He is most grateful also to the Knights and Ladies of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem for their presence and for the work that they do throughout the region.

His Holiness will pray for you and for the members of the Order. To all of you he cordially imparts his Apostolic Blessing.

Yours sincerely in Christ,

Secretary of State V News Letter No. XX · september 2010

Pope calls on Middle East Catholics to engage in mission for reconciliation

Enthusiastic believers welcomed Benedict XVI to the Mass in the Nicosia sports stadium.

n the third day of his visit to Cyprus In his homily to over 5000 faithful the Pope Benedict XVI called on the Pope said immigrants from the Philippines, O Catholic minority on the island and Sri Lanka and other countries were “an es- in the Middle East to engage in the missi- sential part” of Cyprus’s Catholic communi- on for reconciliation and peace. “Breaking ty whose presence could enrich local society. down the barriers between ourselves and our neighbors is the prerequisite for ente- On his arrival Benedict XVI was welco- ring the divine life to which we are called,” med by an enthusiastic crowd. Some parts the Pope said during the Mass on Sunday in of the Eucharist were celebrated in Arabic, the Nicosia sports center. Armenian and Tagalog (the Filipino langua- ge). Patriarchs and Bishops from the Middle The faithful must free themselves from East also took part in the Mass. Afterward, egotism, greed and fear and overcome the the Pope presented the working document differences between them and others. We for the Synod of Bishops for the Middle must no longer think of “me” but, rather, of East that will take place in Rome in October. “us” and each one of us must emerge from the “closed world of his or her own indivi- On Saturday evening Pope Benedict met duality”. The Pope referred to the pleas we the distinguished Muslim representative and make in the Lord’s Prayer, which does not spiritual leader Sheikh Nazim. The meeting use the plural “we” for nothing. with the Sufi teacher (Sheikh Muhammad Nazim Adil al-Qubrusi al-Haqqani) took By receiving the Body and Blood of Christ place in the garden of the Nunciature in in the Eucharist baptized Christians are Nicosia and lasted only around five minutes. united, becoming one “body in Christ”. He Vatican spokesman Fr. Federico Lombar- gave the example of the Apostles who car- di confirmed that the Pope and the Sheikh ried Jesus’ message of reconciliation to the embraced. world. It was just as important now as then to offer a message of hope wherever con- Nazim’s spokesman described the brief flict rages. We must share our earthly goods encounter with the Pope as a “warmhearted, generously with those in need, just as the brotherly and friendly gesture”. It would not Apostles did. fail to have an effect on the dialog between VI News Letter No. XX · september 2010

Christianity and Islam. In such a short time cated with commemorative medals of his political themes were not addressed, the spo- pontificate. Each asked the other to pray for kesman at that evening’s Press conference him. The Sheikh told the Pope that he had told Vatican correspondents travelling with met his predecessor John Paul II at an inter- the Pope. The Holy Father and the Sheikh faith gathering. assured each other of their mutual respect. The meeting took place in an “extremely 89-year old Nazim lives in Northern friendly atmosphere”. Cyprus. Benedict XVI restricted his visit to the internationally recognized South of the Nazim gave the Pope a walking stick, a island, which has been divided since 1974. plaque with the word “Peace” and a set of Muslim prayer beads. Benedict XVI recipro-

From the Grand Magisterium

H.E. Prof. Agostino Borromeo, Governor General of the Order, announced support for more Projects in the Holy Land:

t the second ROACO meeting of ROACO for the year 2010 therefore amounts 2010, His Eminence the Cardinal to € 451,757. A Grand Master decided to donate the entire amount requested for the pro- 1. X-ray machine for the jects listed below, for a total equivalent to Italian Hospital at Kerak – Jordan € 70,000 € 163,757. Whilst awaiting the contributions from the Lieutenancies, and with exception The Italian Hospital in Kerak was foun- of the finance for project 3, the Grand Magi- ded in 1935 by the Associazione Nazionale per sterium has already made the payment from il Sostegno dei Missionari Italiani (National its reserve funds. This sum is additional to the Association for Assistance to Italian Missiona- donation of € 288,000 made by the Order at ries) and has been run, from the outset, under the first ROACO session, last January. In the the supervision of the Combonian Missionary meantime, the Lieutenancies have promised Sisters. The hospital has 38 beds, 3 operating to sponsor all the projects dealt with at that theaters, 2 intensive therapy rooms and 3 di- session, except for the swimming pool at the alysis machines (4000 patients, 1000 births Beit Hanina Institute, which needs another and 1700 operations per year). It serves main- € 85,000 in sponsorship (see table). ly Bedouins and the inhabitants of Ghor (an The total contribution of the Order to area near the Dead Sea), as well as the Iraqi VII News Letter No. XX · september 2010 refugees who have arrived in recent years. with young people and the new parish priest, The radiography equipment is in urgent need Fr. Johnny Khalil, would like to expand its of replacement as it is very old. work to bring in young people from the four other Christian parishes in Nablus.

2. Restoration of the Ephpheta School For the Movement to have its own space, Meeting Hall – Bethlehem Fr. Khalil has asked if he can renovate the old € 18,000 two-storey building beside the church (which was itself recently restored by the Order) and The school founded by Pope Paul VI in 1971 convert it to a place for youth activities, with a and run by the Sisters of Saint Dorothy cares library, meeting room, office, computer/inter- for 142 children with hearing difficulties in net and audiovisual facilities and a recreation the age range 1 to 16. Lessons and group work hall. carried out with family members (usually the When presented by the ROACO, this pro- mother) form an essential element in their ject was sponsored in its entirety by the recovery. By providing information and sug- Lieutenancy for England & Wales, which was gesting activities that will assist rehabilitati- already in contact with the parish of Rafidia on, the hospital aims to overcome the sense of in connection with this type of activity. It is frustration and shame often displayed by the mentioned here solely for the information of family and ensure that there is someone with the other Lieutenancies. whom the child can communicate effectively. The present school hall urgently requires restoration, including the electrical and 4. Electronic Catalog of $ 26,078 lighting installations, an air conditioning the Dominican Biblical School (€ 20,294)* system, a new stage with audio equipment and new seating. The entire project has already been spon- The Ecole Biblique et Archéologique Française sored by the Lieutenancy for Northern Italy (French Biblical and Archeological School) is – at the European Lieutenants’ meeting in a Dominican postgraduate college for biblical Rome – which agreed to reallocate to this pro- and archeological studies. Its internationally ject the € 19,000 previously sent to the Grand renowned library has over 140,000 volumes Magisterium for ROACO project 1/2010 D.6 and periodicals as well as a comprehensive (Syrian Orthodox Church meeting room). It is collection of maps and photographic plates mentioned here solely for the information of dating back to the 19th century. the other Lieutenancies. The college has begun to create a computer catalog of its entire library but has discovered 3. Youth Centre at Nablus – $ 71.000 that it is difficult and very costly to use French Rafidia Parish – Palestine (€ 55,463)* volunteer librarians. It therefore intends to employ a local librarian – an Arab Christian Political instability and violence in Nablus, from Nazareth trained in France in the use of especially during the two Intifadas, caused electronic library systems – to complete and the Latin Patriarchate to set up a Youth Mo- continue updating the work. vement in the Latin Parish of St. Justin in Rafidia as long ago as 1998. In the last few years its activities have become very popular *Exchange rate €/$ = 1,285 as at 21/7/2010 VIII News Letter No. XX · september 2010

A report from Bethlehem: “We refuse to be enemies” Palestinian Christians fight over the “Tent of Nations” project (Kathpress)

igging a cistern is hot work: Willi It is only because the family is taking the and Thomas are standing in a ditch case to the highest Israeli courts that the D more than two meters deep, shove- bulldozers have not yet moved in. Now they ling dirt into buckets. The community service have to wait until both sides have put their workers from Germany use a block and tackle argument and the judges pronounce the last to hoist the buckets to the top where they are word. collected by two women volunteers. The summer sun beats down on the poor land around A complicated legal situation Bethlehem. In the background the houses of the Israeli settlement of Neve Daniel are The Palestinian knows his way around the huddled together on a neighboring hill, close complicated Israeli law: his family has been to a gigantic water tower. fighting for recognition of its ownership of The two 20-year olds are helping with the the 42 hectare plot since 1991; all the rest “Tent of Nations” project for a year – right at of this zone has been declared Israeli State the center of one of the hotspots of the Middle land. His grandfather’s deeds of purchase East conflict. The Nassar family’s farm (they from 1916 when the Ottomans were in power are Christians) lies in the Jewish “Gush Etzi- and the documents from the times of British on” settlement bloc to the west of Bethlehem and Jordanian rule have all been brushed and is the only hill still in Palestinian hands. aside by the military authorities. The family has already thrown away about 120,000 Daoud Nassar manages the work with a Euros on expert opinions, attorneys, etc. – mixture of pride and defiance. While his and they are still fighting for direct recogni- helpers wrest a new cistern from the stony tion of ownership from the highest legal aut- ground a demolition order from the Israeli horities. “Without help from abroad”, says military hangs over the few other poor farm Nassar, “we would have had to give up long buildings. A couple of tents and stalls, the ago”. framework of a few pens, the new solar roofs of the two little farmhouses – all erected Even the temporary stop placed on the without building permits. “We asked the demolition order can be traced back to mas- army’s civil administration for approval”, sive outside pressure – hundreds of letters of the 55-year old father of the family says in protest have been sent, thanks to the Evan- the fluent German he learnt while he was gelical Church in Germany. Despite all the studying abroad, “but it was refused. No one troubles and setbacks, Nassar believes in the told us why”. strength of Jesus’ message of non-violence: IX No. XX · september 2010 News Letter

“We refuse to be enemies” is the motto of the says, “but there is another way”. In the past “Tent of Nations” project that began in the year over 4000 people from home and abroad year 2000. With summer camps for children, have stayed with the Nassars – including tree planting programs and numerous other Israelis. Daoud particularly remembers one projects the Nassars are not just adding va- woman from the settlement who was brought lue to their home and their land – they are by a Jewish peace activist. “She became very trying to “turn their frustration into positive thoughtful when she saw how we have to energy”. struggle for every drop of water while just over there in her neighborhood there are “Negative experiences usually lead to swimming pools”. Such encounters may “not violence, resignation or emigration”, Nassar yet be peace – but they are the prerequisite”.

Cardinal Lanza di Montezemolo: the prominent Vatican diplomat and first Nuncio in Israel is 85

ardinal Andrea Cordero Lanza di Montezemolo, former diplomat of the Holy See, reached his 85th birthday on 27 August. A native of Turin, he has been one of the C outstanding personalities of Vatican international politics. Amongst other things, Montezemolo was amongst those who drew up the Fundamental Agreement between Israel and the Holy See. After this was concluded in 1993, in 1994 he became the first Nuncio in Israel.

Although he retired officially in 2001, that same year Montezemolo became involved with changes in the administration of the Roman basilica of St. Paul’s outside the Walls, and with its pilgrimage bureau. In 2005 Pope Benedict XVI made him Archpriest of the basilica and a Cardinal. From October 2001 until he became a Cardinal Montezemolo was Assessor of our Order and in particular he played an authoritative part in preparations for the 2003 Consulta.

It was Montezemolo’s initiative that gave rise to new archeological explorations of the tomb of St. Paul and to the commemoration of the 2000th birthday of the Apostle to the Gentiles by the Year of St. Paul that began in 2008. At the end of the celebratory year Montezemolo resigned from the post of Archpriest. Nonetheless, the Cardinal is still very much a presence in the Italian Church.